Iraq takes control of military from U.S. (WTF?!?)

[annabanana]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060907/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press Writer
13 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq formally took over command of its armed forces from the U.S.-led coalition Thursday, a milestone American officials have hailed as crucial to the country's difficult road to independence and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops.

However, Iraq's bloodshed continued in the hours before the handover. Six bomb attacks targeting police patrols in Baghdad killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50.

"This is such a huge, significant event that's about to occur," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said Wednesday of the handover. "If you go back and you map out significant events that have occurred in this government's formation in taking control of the country, tomorrow is gigantic."

The heavily touted transfer was scheduled to take place five days ago, but was canceled at the last minute as the two sides tried to work out differences over the documents involved.

So.. the troops are on their way home? Right?

[rodeodance]

1. Bush just said to Curic that When their commanders say the mission is

accomplished, they can come home. Bush has shifted the responsiblity to the Commanders in Irag for this decision.

[Journeyman]

9. So the decider has decided to let others decide his decisions...

Why do I picture him as less decisive than J.A. Prufrock?

In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

[peacebird]

2. Iraq was "given" control of one group in Najaf...their masters will phase

in "control" of other Iraqi batallions at the rate of two per month....

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=September&x=20060906172408idybeekcm0.3011591


Iraq supposedly has 88 batallions currently so that means in only 44 months or nearly FOUR YEARS Iraq will actually "control" their own forces....

[acmavm]

3. An election year stunt is all this is.

[exlrrp]

6. Agreed! Means nothing!

The Iraqi Army/ security forces are a joke, ineffective, riddled with moles. Just ask any Iraq veteran if they'd like the Iraqi Army to back them up in combat

[Niche]

4. Notice all the tying up of bu$co's mess?

Seems like a campaign issues Dems are running on are just gettin' tied up real fast. Very interesting strat-ee-gory.

[rooboy]

5. Does this mean * will go on another aircraft carrier packing socks? n/t

[EnviroBat]

7. Another f*ing election stunt...

Look at how the bullshit is all falling into place. 1)The revealing of the secret CIA bases; 2)The gas prices are slipping down; 3)Now this situation in Iraq.

Translation: We are losing our ass in Iraq and so the administration is creating a sugar coated OUT to this winless situation. I pray nobody is buying into this obvious crap!

[Roy]

8. They just changed some words on some worthless paper.....

This is no more than an election year stunt to fool people.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Guess Bush's little claim that Iraq was sovereign in June '04 was just

another joke.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/28/iraq.handover/index.html

[geek tragedy]

11. We're turning the corner! Light at the end of the tunnel!

We'll see how this goes.

[catmandu57]

12. Propaganda

No more or no less, manna for the weakbrained.

[texanshatingbush]

13. Smacks of Vietnam.......

Remember......Nixon just declared victory and left.......

[Recursion]

14. It means we bowed out right after Sistani did

Sistani just said he can't keep preventing a civil war. We're essentially handing the reins over to the Shi'ites now with the hope that we killed enough of the death squad leaders that a bloodbath won't follow.

Given how the rest of this war has gone, I have to say I doubt we are right.

[maddezmom]

15. Militants kill 44 in Iraq as US begins military handover

Militant groups killed at least 44 people in Iraq today as the US military officially handed over command of the Iraqi military to Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister.



A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police fuel depot in central Baghdad, killing at least 12 policemen.

At least five other bombings in Baghdad and other attacks around the country brought the death toll to 44.

Figures from the Health Ministry showed that 1,536 died from violence in Baghdad last month, roughly the same figure that was reported by the Government for July.

more:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2347679,00.html

[struggle4progress]

16. Handover of military to Iraqi leader far from complete

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - It's a step toward bringing American and other foreign troops home. But today's transfer of military authority in Iraq wasn't a complete one.

The country's prime minister took control of just one of Iraq's ten army divisions, as well as its tiny navy and air force. At a ceremony, the top U-S general in Iraq called it an "important milestone," but warns there's still "a way to go."

For one thing, it's unclear how fast the Iraqi troops will be ready to take over security. And there are still nine army divisions being controlled by the U-S, with no timetable for a handover. One American military spokesman says it might happen at a rate of two divisions per month.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/world/story.aspx?content_id=24452684-6AFF-4534-808D-9FB4807C82C8

[0007]

17. The troops will be protecting those 14 new military installations

and the big American palace


Presidential Palace US Embassy

[MiniMe]

18. Carefully worded BS nt